concealed carry without holster???

[SSN Vet]

I've been experimenting with IWB positions by tucking my PT-111 in my jeans and walking around my property or taking short trips.

4 o'clock on strong side seems to fit me best. COB also feels pretty good.

During this process, I was surprised to find how secure the gun feels, just tucked in without a hoster.....it doesn't seem to slide around, wont drop down, doesn't come up. Not really uncomfortable.

So I'm wondering....is there anybody out there who carries this way?

Is this a viable option?

I've been researcing holsters and have been discouraged to read that often times people go through MANY holsters before finding something that is comfortable and works for them.

I simply can't afford a drawer full of holsters I tried and didn't like.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I've never been comfortable when I've tried that, but I've known a couple of people who carry like that. I would think that things lint and body oils and such might be a problem with that kind of carry for extended periods of time. You might want to look at a simple inside the pants type holster like this as some kind of compromise. At least one of the people I know who did the holsterless carry moved to this type of holster (without the strap) and a couple of others use something like that for smaller autos, like Kahrs. It's also pretty inexpensive.
Hope that helps.

(No affilation with the site linked above, just the first hit when I searched for it.)

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Have you tried running while carrying without a holster? Or sitting down for a long period of time, squirms and all, then getting up to see how it's shifted? What will you do when it slides down your pants someday and pops out next to your shoe in the middle of Krogers?

It's not stable during rough activity, and it can shift such that you're not going to get any fair repeatability of your drawstroke.

I think I'd splurge on a holster, and then sell it here or on ebay or something if you don't like it. If you're looking for a quality, thin IWB holster, you could try Comp-Tac. I use their CTAC and it's good stuff. Very thin, comfortable, good retention, no rocking or shifting, easy on/off.

 

[sm]

The NAA .22 Mini-Revolvers with Laynard ring.

Purchase a new one with one , or if an older one, send it in and have NAA do the Laynard ring and - the safey stops between cylinders if yours does not have.

This is especially good for ladies , works as a last ditch effort. If a lady is down and attacker is doing, and has hands where they are not supposed to be...

Then again I have used a NAA around my neck, in a empty box of smokes,
back jeans pocket, jeans watch pocket, inside blue blazer pocket, Shirt pocket, and even handed a Altoids Peppermint tin with one in it for someone that needed something ...she stuck this in her windbreaker pocket, and later removed and put around her neck in the ladies room..

NOTE: Very Very serious injuries can occur from necklaces, "ripping" a chain can cause serious wounds or worse. If the "chain" does not let go, chain can be used to control you.

1)simple beaded chains [like GI Tags] will give - meaning YOU can rip the NAA off the chain if need.

2)cloth neckstraps used by nurses and such, have a break away feature so keys and badges do not hurt them. These also allow for a secure method of the NAA, and these break away.

*ahem* besides nurses and such are used to being seen with these and sometimes two...*car keys* and Hopstital *secure* keys do need to be secure and good idea to put inside scrubs...

Holsters are always recommended - then agan one sometimes has to

-Think Outside the Box
- Improvise- Adapt-Overcome
-and NOT Parrot everything.

Take a look at your wife, or your 21 y/o daughter, and think about it?

Remove Cylinder, get the teddy bear, and let them practice shooting the teddy bear in the eye as they are on the bed, sitting on the toliet, laying on the sofa or out in the garage where not able to be seen, fighting teddy bear "off them" in the car, from the back seat and from the trunk....other stuff too...

Think.

 

[tegemu]

Is this a viable option? NO!!! It is dangerous, the gun can be easily disloged and the wear on the gun and on the wearer is greater than if well holstered.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Not a good idea.

I have seen a nice trick using a piece of 550 cord looped over your belt that forms a loop that the pistol can ride in. Keeps it from moving around or falling down. Works well.

However, even that I would only do when there wasn't another option.

I would spend the few bucks on a holster before something happens.

 

[Biker]

My leather vests have inside breast pockets which I had reinforced with leather that can easily carry a AMT 380 Backup or a 38 snubbie and the hip pocket in my 501s easily conceals my 380 behind a folded up piece of paper or my bandana.
There's always a way.

Biker

 

[MCgunner]

I believe in good leather for retention and presentation and protection of the gun's finish. Any leather is better than no (or kydex or ballistic nylon), but I like quality leather if I have a choice. Quality starts at about 50 bucks and goes up. Milt Sparks and Mitch Rosen make my favorites. I dabble with making my own, but it ain't so purty as Mr. Rosen's stuff, nor as well made. He's da man far as I'm concerned.

Okay, I'm a leather snob. I put a 250 dollar Kel Tec in a 150 dollar Holster. Oh, well...

 

[Zundfolge]

Carry without a holster is also a good way to facilitate a negligent discharge.


Aside from holding a pistol in place and protecting the finish, one of the most important functions of a holster is to keep the trigger covered.



Hitting the bang switch accidentally with the gun stuffed in your pants could ruin your whole day.

 

[SSN Vet]

survey says....

Not a good idea!!!

I guess I already knew that...but after my "experimenting" I figured I'd ask the question.

I'd love to get a Milt Sparks, and I think his holsters are reasonably priced....but apparently a LOT of other people do to.....lead time is up to 20 WEEKS!

I'm willing to put $50 to $80 into a good holster....but this is my problem....

I've read several posts on this forum in which people tell that it took 3 or 4 (or more) tries to get a holster that fit well and was comfortable.

This could be due to buying cheepies and then incrementally going up untill they bought their first real quality holster.....or, did they buy several holsters at $75 a pop, untill they got one they could live with?

I have a very well stocked dealer nearby (Kittery Trading Post). I guess I'll bring my gun in and beg them to open the blister pack on a Bianchi 100 and test the fit and try it on.

thanks for the feedback.

Safety is my #1 priority...don't get me wrong.

 

[atlctyslkr]

Check your state's laws. I know for a fact that unholstered carry is not legal here. Must be secured in a holster unless it's in a case of some sort (purses and breifcases are legal).

 

[yomama]

I caught a piece in the news yesterday about a guy from Chehalis, Washington who was helping a friend move. He had his pistol in his waistband, gun fell out, discharging a round into his stomach. He's dead now. I can't find a link to a web page with the story to get any more details.

 

[jeb_ingram]

I carry my S&W 624 with Clipdraw and it is so pleasant I'm thinking about getting one for my Glock 27. I don’t even know its there. I usually carry at the 5 o'clock position.

Heres a link http://www.clipdraw.com/

 

[RoyG]

Azrael's Custom Leather

Try Azrael's Custom Leather.

He is a member of THR and sells a great economy pocket holster. I have one for a j frame. It disappears in my front pocket.

 

[10-Ring]

Nope, i wouldn't do it...& I wouldn't recommend it either

 

[aryfrosty]

holsters? or not?

The person who said pay attention to the laws regarding carry was right on the beam. We don't have a lot of silly stuff like no carry unless holstered, but I'm sure there are some places which are messed up. I don't care for the crack carry option. It IS comfortable and I like it for me, but I have seen a couple of acquaintances shoot themselves in the butt. I have a couple of exceptional pocket holsters for an AMT Backup .45ACP made by Bob Mika, and I have a couple of Uncle Mike's pocket shucks for my Kahr MK-9 and a Beretta Tomcat. I have carried on the belt and in the pocket, (and a bunch of other fancy places), for over 39 years, on duty and off. The only one I'll never do again is the ankle carry. When you can honestly balance safety/accessibilty/concealment you'll be OK. A favorite crack carry tale... And it's true. A U/C Officer carried a 1911 cocked and locked that way. Priorities as they should be, appearance in the morning for paperwork and saying howdy-do HAD to follow a trip to the potty, where he hooked the trigger guard on the coat hook while he sat. The LAST time he carried that way he knocked the thumb safety off without realizing it. When he "hooked" the guard the hook impacted the trigger. Recoil being what it is and fate being what IT is the well tuned 1911 functioned several rounds through before it fell of the coat hook. When someone opened the stall the officer was crouched on top of the seat with his fingers in his ears. It really happened at a Tennessee city PD.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I tried if for a couple of short trips and I find that the gun will shift EVERY time I get out of the cars seat. I also found that if I lay down, the gun will fall out. (I tested this at home) I have one of the Uncle Mikes IWB things and it really helps with the shifting however unless your belt is crazy tight, the gun will still shift. That being said, I think the Uncle Mikes rig is inexpensive and the concealment is actually quite good. I'm currently looking into tuckable rigs so that I can dress appropriately for work otherwise I'd continue to use it. I'll confess a bit of irritation at the lamentable insistance of some that quality is defined as expensive leather. Frankly, I think the IWB carry is the most concealed and possibly the worst mode for leather. Sweat and friction would make this a lose lose proposition. Add to this that the Neoprene holsters don't screw up your guns finish or your hides finish for that matter!

 

[aryfrosty]

Carrying your business

I agree usually about leather. However I have 2 really good Milt Sparks VM2 s which have carried well and defy all my efforts to hurt them carrying. The more I carry them the better they seem to be. 1 is for my S&W L frame .44 spl and 1 is for a Kimber Custom Classic. Strangely one of the best I ever had was a Safariland IWB which was no more than a belt clip attached to a sueded soft pouch generally shaped like a holster. Carried a SIG P-229 off duty for some few years with good service.

 

[bubbygator]

That's commonly called the "Mexican Carry". The guy above gave the url to ClipDraw - I've used their Universal model on a small parkerized 1911, & it worked just fine for non-running work; although I only carry "hammer-down".

For revolvers, try the Barami Hip-Grip. here: http://www.baramihipgrip.com/ ... this works quite well for small revolvers; many times in combination with the Tyler T-grip which kinda fills-in a bit of the gap. I found the Barami hard-plastic material to be too slick for quick grabs, so I wrapped it with the gauze-like tennis grip-tape... works like a charm!

 

[RyanM]

I've use the Jentra "Glok Klip." It's not bad at all. Holds the gun fine when jumping up and down and running and stuff.

 

[Vex]

RyanM is talking about this thing.

http://www.streichers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=Guns and Ammo&Category=HAND_GRIP&Prod=JEN-KLIP1

AFAIK, it's only availbe for Glocks.

 

[Manedwolf]

Pocket lint in barrel = bad
Pocket lint in revolver = REAL bad

Coins = scratch
Coins (can) push on safety/takedown/mag release
Coins (can) get caught in trigger guard of trigger-safety-only semiautos.

I prefer to go with a holster.

I'd say at least one of the cheap Uncle Mike's thin ones. SOMETHING. Too much to worry about. A coin in the pocket causing an ND, the gun falling out in the middle of a supermarket, causing screams and a takedown by a LEO...

Not worth it, IMO.

 

[RyanM]

RyanM is talking about this thing.

Yep, that's the Glok Klip. Fairly similar to the Clipdraw. Main reasons I chose that over the Glock Clipdraw were that it interferes with racking the slide less, and it doesn't have a ridiculous "NOT MEANT FOR PISTOL IN READY TO FIRE CONDITION" safety billboard on it.

------------------

I'd say at least one of the cheap Uncle Mike's thin ones. SOMETHING. Too much to worry about. A coin in the pocket causing an ND, the gun falling out in the middle of a supermarket, causing screams and a takedown by a LEO...

Really, what size guns do you think we're talking about here? The trigger ends up behind your waistband, not all the way down near the pockets. And unless you wear silk pants, it would be very difficult for something poking your waistband to pull the trigger. If you're really concerned about it, wear a belt. The stiff leather will eliminate the chance of something poking through the pants and nudging the trigger.

People also keep saying that the trigger could "snag on something" when putting the gun into your waistband. Snag on what? My [graphic description]? My [other graphic description]s? My [more graphic description] hair? My tighty whities? There's nothing else in there! Anything that could conceivably get inside your pants and snag on the trigger, could also get into your holster and snag the trigger. If anything, a holster is worse, since they're stiffer and they're usually partially or fully opened when the gun isn't in them. Much easier for a pen or whatever to fall into an open holster, than into a waistband that's drawn somewhat tight against your body. Plus you'd feel it digging against your side if it's in your waistband, but wouldn't feel it in a holster.

 

[tegemu]

One of the most highly regarded holsters is Gary Brommeland's Max Con V. He has just instituted a Service Grade of it which is just as good as his Presentation Grade and can be had in just a few weeks instead a long wait. The price is right too, about $20.00 less than the presentation grade. I don't think he has it in his website yet but give Gary a call and he will gladly provide. www.brommelandgunleather.com

 

[Mizzle187]

I wouldnt suggest you "mehicanD ) unless its an emergency or something then whatever goes. I personally got very lucky becuase the first holster I got for my primary carry(IWB P99 compact) has worked superbly. It is a Done Hume waist band clip on. Its actually one of their cheapest holsters. I was prepared to spend $100-$200 on a holster but I came across this one and it was perfect "FOR ME" . If it worked why not use it. Its a quality holster and all just like around $30.00 . Basiclly what im saying is dont think you have to spend $200 to have a good,comfortable,quality holster becuase you dont. IMO a belt is the more important part of carry.